WHY BRIAN KEMP SHOULD BE OUR NEXT GOVERNOR

WHY BRIAN KEMP SHOULD BE OUR NEXT GOVERNORAugust 16, 1976 – Carrollton, GA.After playing outside in the heat of the summer, I went inside to ask my parents whether I could stay up to watch “Mr. Reagan.” I was three years old. I went into the living room, sat on the couch, and watched what I would later learn to be Ronald Reagan’s concession speech as he lost by a little more than 100 votes to Gerald Ford; who wouldbe the 1976 Republican nominee for POTUS.Since that night, I became intrigued with politics.In just a few days, Georgians will elect several public servants. However, there is one race thatwill have a critical effect on the Peach State; the gubernatorial election.Voting records, political philosophy, the identity of donors, and whether donors have ties to our state tell us more about a candidate than who “won” a debate.THE GOVERNORSecretary of State Brian Kemp (R) is running against Stacey Abrams (D), the former House minority leader. Politically, they could not be any different.While I fully endorse Brian Kemp, I would be remiss in not sharing that I had lunch with Abrams last year. We discussed Carrollton, our backgrounds, and the speech she was about to give. We did not discuss a single political issue the entire day. I found her to be one of the mostintelligent, charming, and driven people I have met.While there are hundreds of issues affecting our state, below are the four cornerstones that will either provide the foundation for a healthy Georgia or the crumbling of the capital of the South:

1. Taxes/Spending – Kemp, a businessman, will focus on spending money that is necessary,like increased teacher pay, while eliminating wasteful and/or arbitrary spending. He will cut state income taxes and put financial stewardship at the forefront. Abrams changed angles on an earlier position that she would reverse a state income tax cut. Today, she supports tax credits forlower-income families, expanding Medicaid, new scholarships, and tax credits for child care.BENEFITS GEORGIA - Kemp

2. 2nd Amendment - Brian Kemp opposes new gun restrictions and backs “constitutional carry,”which would let gun owners conceal and carry handguns without a permit. He proposed a sales tax holiday for guns and ammunition. Kemp also wants to end some of the most dangerous “gun-free” zones. Abrams supports stricter gun laws, including universal background checksfor private sales of firearms and a repeal of the “campus carry” legislation that allows permit holders, like me, to carry weapons on college campuses.BENEFITS GEORGIA - Kemp

3. Criminal Justice – Kemp clearly points out that verified gang affiliated violence is a public safety crisis and plans to create a new unit in the state attorney general’s office devoted to fighting the crime. He will continue the bipartisan reforms that have been a large part of Governor Deal’s legacy. Abrams wants to eliminate the use of cash bail for some poor defendants, backs taking steps to decriminalize marijuana, expanding accountability courts and ending capital punishment.BENEFITS GEORGIA – Kemp and Abrams

4. Illegal Immigration – Kemp will propose creating a database for tracking illegal immigrants with criminal convictions and for speeding up their deportations. Abrams opposes legislation that could harm “immigrant and refugee communities.”BENEFITS GEORGIA - Kemp

Like most things in life, supporters tell us about a person more than any words.

The American Society of Legal Advocates, ASLA, is an invitation-only, nationwide organization of elite lawyers in practice today. ASLA draws its membership from lawyers who combine stellar legal credentials with a proven commitment to community engagement and the highest professional standards. The selection process is a culmination of a six month process in which ASLA independently researches information on tens of thousands of lawyers in filling each Top 100 category and ultimately selects lessthan 2 percent overall. There are no self nominations allowed in the process.

MARTINDALE-HUBBELL AV-RATED

The AV rating is the highest that an attorney can receive. Martindale-Hubbell attorneys ratings consist of a rigorous process of interviews involving peers, judges, and other credentials that an attorney may have.

To learn more about my Martindale rating, please visit my profile at lawyers.com.

TG Readers’ Choice Winner

I thank the people of Carroll County, my family, friends, and clients for their trust, loyalty, and confidence they have placed with my firm over the past decade. You have given me a great honor by choosing my firm as the “Best Law Firm” in Carroll County for 2014 & 2016. I am also grateful that God directed me into a profession where I can truly say that I look forward to going to work every day. Because of this love and devotion to my practice, I have committed to striving to provide the best criminal defense services to the people of west Georgia for many years to come.Jason W. Swindle Sr. – Swindle Law Group, P.C.